Earthshot Awards to Be Held at Venue Owned by Fossil Fuel Giant
Conservationists question the Mumbai location due to the host family's oil interests and their controversial private zoo.
By Aiko Soto ·
The annual Earthshot prize ceremony will take place at a convention center owned by a billionaire family with major interests in the oil industry. The event is scheduled for November 17 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.
The venue is part of Reliance Industries, controlled by Mukesh Ambani. The company operates Jamnagar, the world's largest oil refinery, located in Gujarat. The Ambani family also funds Vantara, a private zoo that has faced scrutiny over its acquisition of endangered animals.
Conservation groups criticize the choice of venue. Megan Carr of the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum South Africa warned that the location could give unearned environmental prestige to a corporate group currently under question. The zoo, known as Vantara, houses more than 150,000 animals, including species like the Spix's macaw that are considered extinct in the wild.
Joanna Swift, executive director of communications for the Earthshot prize, stated that the prize did not seek a philanthropic partnership for the event. She said the organization is paying the standard commercial rate for the space. Swift noted that the venue was chosen for its technical infrastructure and ability to host major international events, including the first Mumbai climate week in February.
This week, the Cites Standing Committee, which regulates trade in endangered species, requested another report from India on its import practices. The committee asked its secretariat to review 11 specific cases regarding how animals were sent to Vantara. India's supreme court had cleared the zoo of illegal acquisition charges last year, but a Cites mission raised compliance concerns in 2025.
Susan Cheyne, vice-chair of the IUCN small apes section, argued that Vantara's model has not yet proven to support conservation. She stated that moving animals out of their range countries into private facilities does not help wild populations without a transparent plan for their welfare and potential return to range states. Daniela Freyer of Pro Wildlife added that a prize focused on nature and climate should be careful not to lend its reputation to unresolved questions about wildlife trade.
The Earthshot prize, founded by Prince William in 2020, awards one million pounds to five winners annually. Swift emphasized the importance of hosting an edition in India, citing Mumbai as the sixth largest city on earth. She said spotlighting environmental solutions in the region allows the prize to reach the largest possible audience.
